I know that the picture is dark, but this is the cornerstone choir Wednesday night for our dress rehearsal.
I just had to say how wonderful yesterday was. I feel so blessed. So humbled to have been able to sing with this choir. The spirit was amazing. The prophet was amazing. The temple is amazing.
You might say the whole day was amazing. Still this morning I feel overwhelmed by the feelings of love and testimony of temples I was given yesterday. How a testimony can be added on to so much I don't know. I only know that mine was.
Sister Hancock our choir conductor helped us before we went to the temple to sing. She reminded us to focus on the message we were giving, rather then the message we were being given. It would help us not to cry. Of course I still did, but some how I was able to sing through the tiers. I think it had something to do with the unseen voices singing around us.
I can't even put into words all of the feeling that I have about the wonderful opportunity. I feel so blessed to be able to caring this with me. I feel so blessed to have had this chance to praise my Father in Heaven in this once in a life time way. Even though Satan tried very hard to persuade me that I didn't need to be there. That my voice didn't matter. My Heavenly Father was quick remind me that he was wrong. every voice matters. Psalms 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This is very true. So all of you sing out. Think you can't sing. Wrong, sing out!! It will add on to your testimony also. I song of praise is a pray unto the lord.

If that isn't the face of fun I don't know what is.
You may be thinking to yourself. Does she look like she is having fun? YES she is on a tube, behind a boat, with many of her friends.
This is the end result of hard work and determination to complete the bishops challenge and memorize The Living Christ. All of the youth that completed this got to go on a fun filled day on the water with the bishop and a few other "leaders" or parents of kids that went.
They had a ball. Haybear came home with a huge smile on her face full of stories to tell of her bravery. Bobo came home bright red and in pain, full of stories of his own and jokes to pass on. When I asked Bobo if it was worth the pain? He said YES with a painful smile all over his red face.
A big thanks to the bishop. The kids truly gained more then a fun afternoon at the lake. They gained a greater understanding of their Savior and his love for them!!!!

What a month!!!

Holy cow, This month has come and gone so quickly. I'm not sure were all the time went. But I had to stop and say how wonderful it has been.
We have had girls camp, birthdays, ordinations, swim meets, fireworks, BBQ's, sleepovers, midnight swims, smore's in the back yard, and lets not forget the open house for the Oquirrh Mountain temple. This may be one of the highlights of this month, last month, and next month.
I know that's three months. Really it more. I was blessed to be a captain of ten for the youth celebration in May also. That was cool. But serving in the temple open house has been amazing.
Today Brad and I got to serve for 5 hours. That was wonderful. The spirit was so strong. I had a hard time talking and keeping the tears inside.It seemed as if people were carried into to the temple with angels. You could not fight back the tears. I know that the tissue box was changed more then one time. I learned so many things about my Heavenly Father and his love for his children today. No soon had Brad dropped me off that he headed to the pool to pick up Haybear and go back with her. I know what your thinking. She's not 14. (I got the bishops permission and that's all I going to say on that). I know how much she was looking forward to this. I know how tired she was going to be after her meet today. I didn't think she would be up to going, but she asked if we could just pick her up and head straight to the temple. She really is such a great kid. "Young women".
Any way. Brad called to let me know how everything was going. Haybear was out side smiling and helping folks get to were they needed to be. I am so glad that she gets to serve this way. One may way for her to serve and learn the importance of the temple, and the work that goes on inside.
To sum it up. It has been a wonderful month. I do not doubt that next month will be just as great, if not crazier. I am OK with that as long as I get to be on the crazy ride with my family.

12 and counting

SO one week later I am girls camp and it happened Bobo turned 12. 12 I can hardly believe it. 12 is huge it Young Men's, the priesthood, and yes Jr high. That one hurts a little.
12 things about this great kid that make me happy,
1-his smile
2-bright eyes full of love
3-jokes and funny stories, he is full of both
4-he loves his little brother so much
5-he treats his sisters with respect
6-he has an amazing testimony and loves the gospel
7-he could hardly wait to get the priesthood
8-he follows his dads example and sets a good one for his self
9-he mows the lawn so the girls don't have to
10-he gives great hugs, even when his friends are watching
11-he has the cutest freckles
12-he works hard to do what is right.

To sum it up he is a great kid. I feel blessed to be his mom. I have learned so much from him and know I will learn more. So happy birthday Bobo.

And then he was 6

I can't believe that my Nader turned 6 today. 6 is not a little boy any more, it is a big boy. Just ask him.

Six things I love about Nader
1-His dog is his best friend. He loves the dog
2-Have you seen him smile?
3-Jokes and funny stories, He is full of both.
4-He adores his big brother. He holds the moon in Naders eyes.
5-He lets his big sisters paint his toes. That's love.
6-He loves going to church, and singing songs in primary
Needless to say I love this little big boy. He holds my heart. He still love hugs and kisses and cuddles. He is such a daddy's boys and thinks that dad is part super hero part swing set. And he is right. He is bright and beautiful and full of sunshine. I don't know how it happened that the Lord gave me such a great kid, but he is for sure a keeper.
Happy Birthday Bub

Time to let them grow up

School is now out. I can hardly believe that. Worse Nader is now a 1st grader. Holy cow I am getting old. Whats even worse Bobo is a might 7th grader. I thought it was bad when Haybear went into 7th, but Bobo. He is my little boy, my baby, right?

I stop for a minute and wonder how do this happen. How did they grow so fast. Where did all the time go to. Then I look in the mirror and find yes, my first gray hair.(I pulled that fast by the way.)Not to mention the lines that I used to call my forehead. And then the answer comes to me. They grew up because I did. Somewhere along the way for the most part I grew up.

I stopped worry about what others thought of me, and started worrying about what I thought of myself. I started to see what worth there was in time and wisdom, and hope that I have much much more time to gain more wisdom. I very much need it.

But the kids. They grow so fast. They were small and helpless and needed me. Now they are big and teenagers and think I am crazy. They may be right. But I love them. Eye rolling, whatevering, I'm right your wrong, Please knock before you come in,(at least they say please) fiercely independent, teenagers.
I love them.
So now I say OK go ahead and grow up. Tell me when its over and you need me again. I think I will go take a nap. Bring on the chocolate!

“The Carpenter of Nazareth”

I have just started to read Broken Things to Mend by Jeffrey R Holland. I have not gotten but 10 pages in and need to share this wonderful poem with you. I will still let you know how wonderful the book is. I know it will be, However I didn't think this could wait. I hope it moves you the way it did me.

In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.

And up and down the dusty way
The village folk would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.

The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with broken plough, or yoke,
Said, “Can you mend it, Carpenter?”

And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.

So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:

“O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that’s broken past repair,
This life, that’s shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?”

And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation—“all things new.”

“The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mould Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!”

- George Blair, “The Carpenter of Nazareth”